Fatal thunderstorms: at least 33 deaths through lightning strikes in the Bihar!

Fatal thunderstorms: at least 33 deaths through lightning strikes in the Bihar!

in the east of India, especially in the state of Bihar, violent monsoon towers have led to a tragic wave of lightning strikes. According to vienna.at , at least 33 people have been killed since Wednesday, whereby the victims mainly affect farmers and people who worked outdoors. These thunderstorms are part of an atypical intensive monsoon season, which has devastating effects not only in India, but also in adjacent countries such as Nepal.

Overall, according to reports from orf.at 61 deaths were documented by lightning strikes in the state of Bihar alone. There were eight other fatalities in the neighboring Nepal. The lightning strikes occurred on Wednesday and Thursday during exceptionally strong thunderstorm activity in the region. Meteorologists warn of further severe rains and thunderstorms in the coming days.

The challenges of climate change

The fatal effects of the monsoons are reinforced by climate change. Experts have already pointed out that the number of fatal lightning strikes in India increases due to the changing climatic conditions. In India, almost 1,900 people die from lightning strikes in India, which reinforces the need for prevention measures.

In addition to the lightning strikes, there were massive floods in the Himalaya, which according to sueddeutsche.de last week. In Delhi, several districts had to be evacuated due to the dangerous weather conditions. The monsoon time traditionally leads to floods and landslides, the frequency and intensity of which have increased in recent years.

economic consequences

The recurring natural disasters in Bihar and other regions of one of the most affected countries affected have significant economic effects. Agriculture suffers from the extreme weather conditions, which endangers the livelihood of many people. In the current monsoon, the authorities are expected to continue to be faced with challenges if the storm fronts build up over the region.

The numbers and reports illustrate that the region needs protective measures against lightning strikes and strategies to cope with the climatic changes to ensure the security and livelihood of the population.